Celebrities react as Donald Trump wins 2024 US election to become president

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Famous personalities are responding to the announcement that Donald Trump is set to be the 47th president of the United States.

On Wednesday, November 6, the Republican candidate achieved a decisive victory after a tumultuous campaign marked by frustration, harsh words, and conflicts.

As the election approached, some celebrities chose to keep their voting preferences to themselves, while others publicly backed Kamala Harris. Notable figures such as Harrison Ford, Jennifer Aniston, and Arnold Schwarzenegger expressed their support for the Democratic contender.

At the same time, Trump's group of well-known backers featured Kelsey Grammer, Hulk Hogan, Zachary Levi, and prominent podcaster Joe Rogan, who showed his support just hours ahead of the election.

When Trump announced his win, Rogan took to X/Twitter to express his astonishment: “ABSOLUTELY. RIDICULOUS.”

Piers Morgan extended his "congratulations" to Trump, labeling his victory as "the most remarkable comeback in the history of politics."

In a joyful message, the former Good Morning Britain presenter highlighted that it reflects your determination, mental toughness, and unwavering spirit, especially as your adversaries attempted to undermine you, imprison you, and label you as the new Hitler. Wishing you all the best for your upcoming term!

Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla and a strong supporter of the Republican Party, expressed his enthusiasm about the news and shared his optimistic outlook for the future.

There was a significant backlash regarding the outcome, with American late-night hosts like Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert expressing their disappointment during their opening monologues just hours after Trump’s victory.

Hollywood actress Jamie Lee Curtis expressed her concerns by stating, “There are widespread worries that people’s rights will be restricted or taken away. This creates fear among various groups, especially minorities and young individuals. Members of the LGBTQ+ community, including gay and trans people, are likely to feel even more anxious. Additionally, we know that many women may struggle to access the reproductive healthcare they require and deserve.”

She encouraged everyone to "rise up and advocate for women, children, and their futures," stating, "Stand against oppression, tackling it day by day. Take on one challenge at a time, one demonstration at a time. That’s what it truly means to be an American. This has always been the case and will remain so, no matter the results."

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After the election ended in Trump's favor, singer Billie Eilish commented that the president's win represented "a battle against women." Meanwhile, rapper Cardi B shared a picture on Instagram with the caption: "I really dislike you all." In another post, she expressed gratitude to Harris for demonstrating that “anything can happen” by campaigning for the presidency as a woman of color.

Ariana Grande, set to appear in the movie version of Wicked later this month, shared her thoughts by saying: “I’m standing by everyone who is feeling the overwhelming weight of today’s news.”

Director Adam McKay, known for his work on films like The Big Short and Don’t Look Up, commented: “Who could have predicted that spreading false claims about Biden's mental fitness for two years, avoiding an open convention to choose a new candidate, ignoring the topic of public healthcare, supporting fracking, aligning with the Cheneys, and allowing a year-long crisis for children in Gaza would not lead to success?”

Wendell Pierce, known for his role in The Wire, cautioned about the potential implications that Trump’s win could bring.

He expressed, "The Supreme Court is set to undergo a transformation that will last for a generation. I doubt I'll witness a balanced court again during my lifetime. Justices Alito and Thomas will likely retire, and Trump will bring in younger, politically biased judges. The harm he is poised to cause to our institutions over the next two years will be permanent."

At the beginning of Wednesday’s episode of The View, host Whoopi Goldberg chose not to mention Trump by name. She addressed the audience, stating: “He’s the president, but I won’t be saying his name. That’s not going to change.”

Goldberg’s co-host, Sunny Hostin, expressed that she was “deeply unsettled” by the outcome, whereas Joy Behar stated that she “strongly opposes the choice made by the American people.”

Behar went on to say, “We’re living in a democracy where the voices of the people are heard. This reflects what the public desires. I am truly optimistic about our democratic framework in this nation. It’s something we should appreciate and cherish. If the need for protest arises, we should stand up for what we believe in—something I know will happen at times. I've seen it happen before during Nixon's era. We have a country we can protect and preserve.”

Lili Reinhart, known for her role in Riverdale, spoke out about the accusations of sexual assault against the president. She said, "I can’t imagine what the women who have spoken out about being assaulted by Trump must feel. It’s heartbreaking to see so many people still support their abuser. My heart goes out to these women. I believe you, and I’m truly sorry."

In May 2023, a jury in New York determined that Trump was responsible for the sexual misconduct against writer E Jean Carroll.

Comedian Christina Applegate encouraged her followers to "unfollow" her if they backed Trump, labeling such support as a "decision against" the rights of women and people with disabilities.

"Go ahead and unfollow me because what you did is unbelievable," Applegate expressed. "I don't want followers like you. So that's it—I'm done. Additionally, I will be closing this fan account that I've maintained for so many years because this is just disturbing."

In a subsequent post, she wrote, “My daughter is crying because her rights as a woman might be stripped away.” Later on, she expressed remorse for her earlier outburst, saying, “I’m still in shock and crying. But I’m not feeling angry anymore. I’m just going to retreat into my own little world and binge-watch a bunch of Bravo shows. So, take care, everyone. I recommend doing the same; it’s quite calming.”

Jeffrey Wright, the Oscar-nominated actor known for his roles in the Hunger Games films, The Batman, and the TV series Westworld, re-posted a previous message that stated, “We’re crazy, America. But we’re not as crazy as Trump.” He added a simple acknowledgment: “I was wrong.” Following this, he chose to delete his account on X/Twitter, a move also made by Bette Midler.

Horror writer Stephen King, shortly after criticizing Musk for backing Trump, expressed his thoughts in a post that said: “In many stores that sell lovely yet delicate items, you often find a sign that says: BEAUTIFUL TO SEE, PLEASANT TO TOUCH, BUT ONCE IT'S BROKEN, IT'S GONE FOR GOOD. This sentiment applies to democracy as well.”

Yvette Nicole Brown, known for her role in Community, commented on the victory by saying, “For us, this feels like just another ordinary Wednesday. Black people are familiar with this reality. Many of you are about to realize how America really treats those it doesn’t value.”

John Cusack, a well-known critic of Trump, warned with a hint of foreboding: "If you're curious about what it truly entails – it's here now." Meanwhile, Kevin McHale, recognized for his role as Artie on Glee, shared his concerns, saying: "The Supreme Court is lost for the remainder of my life. This is a mandate for ultra-conservative evangelical prejudice, xenophobia, and racism."

Actor and director Ben Stiller recently referenced playwright David Adjmi, mentioning the phrase: “...will the coast ever be clear?”

On the other side, within Trump’s supporters, boxer and social media figure Jake Paul described the Republican party’s success as a significant move toward addressing the serious problems the world is facing today. At the same time, actor Zachary Levi, known for his role in Shazam!, posted about an unsubstantiated conspiracy theory alleging that Joe Biden’s win in 2020 was manipulated.

However, in the realm of celebrities, the shock was more pronounced.

Erin Moriarty, known for her role as Starlight in the Prime Video series The Boys, took to Instagram to share her thoughts: “We’ve taken back a term that was meant to hurt us, and we’re going to take back our independence. Sending love, a (optimistic) fierce woman.”

"Devastated" One Tree Hill actress Sophia Bush shared her thoughts: "Well done, America, for empowering the MAGA crowd. I can only imagine how many people are watching this and still whispering ‘But at least he’s not a Black woman!’ from the comfort of their own homes this evening.”

Succession star Dagmara Dominczyk expressed her agreement, stating, “Trump’s victory came from the fact that many Americans are uninformed enough to pick a dishonest, unstable criminal who was born into wealth rather than a woman of color. That’s all there is to it. Nothing else was important to them. It’s appalling, embarrassing, and obvious.”

Ethel Cain, the American singer-songwriter, expressed in a longer message that Trump's victory represents "a more significant issue" and referred to it as "the harsh result of a reality in this nation where mutual disdain is prevalent."

In the UK, Philip Pullman, the author of His Dark Materials, was not pleased with Trump's election victory. He expressed his feelings by saying "goodbye" to America and remarked, "It was nice knowing you."

Susie Dent expressed her thoughts on Trump's second victory in the White House in a subtle way. The Countdown star mentioned, “Today's word is 'recrudescence' (from the 17th century): the resurgence of something awful after a period of relief.”

The post was shared again by broadcaster Carol Vorderman, who previously stated, “It seems like Trump is going to win. God help the United States.” Comedian Jenny Eclair called the outcome “incredible,” while Armando Iannucci, known for creating The Thick of It and Veep, expressed his skepticism about the situation by tweeting, “And it’s just Wednesday.”

Model and activist Munroe Bergdorf conveyed an urgent message to her audience, urging them: "This is the moment to become politically active and maintain that engagement. Don't wait until the next election in four years... act now."

"Your voice, your rights, and your life are important. The West is not just slipping into fascism; it’s already present, and we all need to come together for one another. Even if things seem really grim, please stay involved."

Duncan Jones, the director of "Moon" and son of David Bowie, shared a brief comment: “We might have judged people’s kindness too highly.” Meanwhile, broadcaster Simon Mayo mentioned that right after Trump’s victory, X/Twitter, which is owned by Musk, seemed to feel "more hostile."

Meanwhile, following the announcement, an openly critical letter by Chris Pratt, the actor from Guardians of the Galaxy, has gained significant attention online after being published right before the election.

Without supporting any specific candidate, he shared with his fans that he is attempting to understand the election from the perspectives of Americans across the political spectrum. He encouraged people to come together as "fellow citizens," no matter the outcome.

He reflected on the upcoming outcome, saying, "It's perfectly fine to take a little time to recover after a defeat. Feel free to shed some tears in front of a mirror if you need to."

Pratt's comments were deemed too "trite" for what many viewed as one of the most crucial elections in American history.